Skip to main content
South Carolina

With 34 days until South Carolina football kicks off 2025, a look back at No. 34, Spencer Lanning

by: Kevin Miller07/28/25kevinbmiller52
Former South Carolina football kicker and punter Spencer Lanning. Photo credit: GamecockCentral
Former South Carolina football kicker and punter Spencer Lanning. Photo credit: GamecockCentral

South Carolina football will take the field for the first time in the 2025 season on August 31st when the Gamecocks take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That means kickoff is just 34 days away.

With a handful of options to choose from as the representative for No. 34 on this countdown, former USC kicker/punter Spencer Lanning takes the cake. Despite overlapping three years of his career with another all-time great in Ryan Succop, Lanning finished his time in garnet and black as one of the best to ever kick or punt at South Carolina.

Stay on top of all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer today!

No. 34 walked on and redshirted in 2006. He then spent the 2007 season backing up Succop, as the latter handled both kicking and punting duties. By the time 2008 rolled around, though, Lanning forced his way onto the field, starting at punter as a redshirt sophomore. That year, the Rock Hill native finished as one of the five best punters in the SEC in punting average.

When Succop graduated, Lanning took over the placekicking responsibilities, as well. He made 17 field goals in both 2009 and 2010, a number that is tied for the sixth-best in school history. His 2010 total of 51 PATs made is tied for second-best ever. Lanning also earned a spot as a team captain and received multiple All-SEC recognitions. His tackle on a long punt return against Ole Miss in 2009 might have been a game-saver

Not bad for a former walk-on.

Though Steve Spurrier occasionally referred to his multi-talented special teamer as “Lanning Spencer,” the Head Ball Coach recently referred to Lanning as a “great kicker for us.” Unsurprisingly, both the Lou Groza Award (placekicking) and Ray Guy Award (punting) recognized Lanning as a national semifinalist in 2010.

Get USC Gamecocks app notifications

For his career, Spencer Lanning finished inside the top five in career punting average and career field goal accuracy. No other player can make that claim. He also owns the top career punting average among Gamecocks who kicked and punted at USC.

Lanning tied the South Carolina football record with five field goal makes in a 5-for-5 performance against Georgia. As a senior in 2010, he posted the fourth-highest scoring season in team history, as he banged through 17 field goals and 51 PATS for 102 total points. Of players who attempted more than 25 kicks at South Carolina, Lanning holds the all-time field goal percentage record. He made 77.3% of his attempts as a Gamecock.

Following his time in Columbia, Lanning spent five seasons in the NFL. He served as the starter for multiple years with the Cleveland Browns and even threw a touchdown pass in 2013.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!

You may also like